Cheap Lug / Quality Lug

Not all battery lugs are created equal. The one on the left was purchased at an auto parts store and is cheap, thin & made of un-tinned copper. The lug on the right is made by FTZ Industries, generally higher quality than Ancor, and is thick tin plated copper. This FTZ lug is a solid connector with no voids what so ever.

Such a superb treatise, about the only nit I can pick is that "whatsoever" is one word not three. :) Hows that for a left-handed compliment? As an EE with product dev experience I am so happy whenever someone treats crimping as a proper engineering problem where the solutions require using the right components, tooling, and technique. Done properly, a crimped connection produces a gas-tight connection that is every bit as reliable as a soldered one and can handle higher currents and temperatures without failing. I would also remind folks that the crimpers do require inspection once in a while.